Hay loader



C. JENSEN July 30, 1940.

HAY LOADER 2 Sheets-Sheet l Filed Dec. 1, 1958 INVENTOR m CHmSnAN JENSENY ATToRNEs/s CZV JENSEN HAY LOADER July 30, 1940.

' Filed Dec.

l. 1958 2 ShetS-Sheet 2 INVENTOR n CHRusr-IAN ,JENSEN sy 2 @Agp @AI-@fmATTORNEYS Patented July 30, 1940 UNITED STATES PATENT oFricE l y'v c2,209,625 .l j f f y Y l HAY LOADER Christian Jensen, Minneapolis,Minn., assignor to Cargill, Incorporated, Minneapolis, Minn., a.corporation of Delaware Applieatien December 1, 1938,3seria1 No.24as59 1Claim.

This invention relates to new and useful irn-l prcvements in hayloaders, and more particularly to such an apparatus having means formounting it upon a conventional automotive truck.

An object of the present invention is to provide a hay loader adapted tobe mounted on the iront end of a truck and having a conveyer positionedover the engine hood and the drivers cab or seat adapted to convey thehay over the front end of the truck and deliver it into the truck body.n

A further object is to provide such a hay loader comprising a suitablesupporting frame adapted to be mounted upon the truck body andsupporting a conveyor having a suitable sickle bar at its front endadapted to cut the hay or other material to be harvested, and a reel being arranged over the sickle bar adapted to engage the cut hay anddeliver it on to the conveyer whereby it is elevated over the front endof the truck and delivered into the truck body.

A further object is to provide a hay loader which may be constructed inthe form of an attachment for a conventional automotive truck, saidloader comprising an endless conveyer mounted for pivotal movementwhereby it may e readily and conveniently be swung to an inoperativeposition, when traveling from place to place.

Other objects of the invention reside in the unique construction of theapparatus whereby it may be manufactured at small cost; in the uniquemanner of mounting it on the truck whereby it will require littleattention when in use, and whereby the driver of the. truck may readilycontrol the operation of both theI truckrand the hay loader; in thenovel meansfor driving the hay loader from the usual propeller or cdrive shaft of the truck, which includes a clutch for controlling theoperation of the conveyer and sickle bar of the hay loader; in theconstruction of the frame of the hay loader which" hasl an offset on oneside to provide a station for the operator adjacent the steering :wheel`of the" truck, whereby a single operator may readily control theoperation of the entireapparatus;V

and, in the general construction and arrange'- ment of the Various partsof the -mechanism whereby it may readily be mounted upon a con-`ventional truck in such a manner that the truck may be used for haulingthe mown hay to a stack or a storage building without detachi'ng thehay-cutter and loader from the truck, thereby reducing handling of thematerial to awith a resultant saving in-labor, and, Aat the same time,greatly expediting the harvestingv of the' claim.

In the accompanying drawings there has been disclosed a structuredesigned vto carry out the variousv objects ofthe'invention, but it isto be understood that the invention is notconned to the exact features"shown as various changes may be made within the scope of the claim whichfollows.v e

In the drawings: v

Figure 1 is va vside elevation of a truck showing the novel hayloader'mounted thereon;

Figure 2 is a plan View of Figure 1, showing vthe operators station;A

Figure 3 is an enlarged detail sectional view substantially on the line3 3 of Figure 2, show`v ing the ground-engaging shoe at` Athe iront endof the conveyer;` 1 y Figure l is a 'transverse sectional Viewsubstantially on the line 4-74 of Figure 1;

Figure 5 is an enlarged detail sectional View showing the means forpivotally supporting the conveyer on the supporting frame; and

Figure 64 is a detail sectional View substantially on the line 6-6 ofFigure 2, showing the pivotal mountingof the conv'eyer upon thesupporting frame.

In the selected embodiment of the invention here shown there isillustrated in `Figure 1, a

conventional truck comprising the usual chassis 2 suported on the usualfront and rear wheels 3 and Il, and having a body 5 mounted thereon; Theusual engine hood 6 is shown over the front wheels 3 for housing theusual vehicle en' gine, not shown. A driversseat 'i is shown be-v tweenthe engine hood G and the body.

The 4novel hay loader herein disclosed is shown comprising a suitablesupporting frame generally indicated by the numeral 8. This frame ispreferably constructed of structural steel and comprises upperlongitudinally disposed frame members 9 and IB having their forward endportions I I bent upwardly,v as best shown in Figure I.

their lower ends supported upon a crossmember I3, secured to the frontend: of the vehicle chassis 2. Similar upright frame members I4, I5, |6,I1 and |8 support the frame members 9 and |0 on the truck body.

As best illustrated in Figure 2, the longitudinally extending framemember lll is offset as shown at |9, while the frame member 9 at theopposite side of the truck is substantially straight. A conveyer,generally indicated by the numeral 2|, is mounted for pivotal movementupon the structural frame 8. This conveyer is shown comprising sidewalls 22 and 23, having their lower portions secured to a suitabletubular cross member 24. ends with suitable bearings 25 and 26 lin whichis mounted a cross shaft 21 having a sheave 28 secured to one endthereof, as best shown in Figure 4.

A similar sheave 29 is secured to the opposite end of the shaft 21.andhas a driving connection with a crank disk 3| through a suitable belt32. The crank disk 3| is secured to a shaft 33 mounted in suitablebearings secured to theside frame members of the conveyer frame.

The crank disk 3| drives a connecting rod 36 which has its lower endconnected to, one end of a bell crank 31 mounted on a suitable pivot 38.The opposite end of the bell crank 31 is pivotally connected to one endof a pitman 39, the opposite end of which is connected to a`conventional sickle, generally indicated by the numeral 4|. The sickleis mounted for reciprocal movement in suitable guides provided in asickle bar 42, having the usual forwardly extending guards 43 as bestshown in Figure 3.

A suitable endless conveyer, generally indicated by the numeral 44, ismounted between the side walls 22 and 23 of the conveyer frame and issupported at its upper end by a suitable roller 45. The lower end of theconveyer 44 is -supported on a plurality of spaced sprockets 46, securedto a cross shaft 31.- Suitable chains 48 are secured to the conveyerbelt and engage the sprockets 46 at the lower end of the conveyer.

The lower end of the conveyer frame has a shoe 49 disposed beneath thebell crank 31. This shoe is adapted to engage the ground, and has itsfront end curved upwardly as shown at 5| in Figure 1, whereby the shoemay readily ride` over irregularities in the surface of the groundduring the cutting and loading operation. A similar shoe 52 of smallersize, is provided at the opposite endv of the sickle bar adapted tosimilarly engage the ground, as will readily be understood by referenceto Figures 1 and 2. A guard plate 53 extends crosswise of the conveyerdirectly beneath the shaft 41 and serves to prevent the slats 54 of theconveyer belt from engaging foreign matter upon the ground and carryingit upwardly into the hay or material being cut and delivered into thetruck body.

A shaft 55 is provided at the front end of the conveyer frame 2| and issupportedl in suitable bearings secured to a structural frame, generallyindicated by the numeral 56. A suitable reel 51 is secured to the shaft55 and is driven by a belt 58, operatively connecting a sheave 59on theshaft 55 to a relatively smaller drive sheave 6|, secured to the shaft41 at the front end of the conveyer. Thus when the cross shaft 41 is ro#tated the reel 51 will be rotated in the direction indicated by thearrow in Figure 3, whereby all of the cut hay will be thrown backwardlyonto the conveyer 44 by the paddles'62 of the reel.

The means for driving the conveyer belt 44 is shown comprising a sheave63 s'ecured'to the The cross member 24 is provided at its sprocket wheel14.

cross shaft 46, provided at the upper end of the conveyer, as best shownin Figure 1. This sheave has a driving connecting with a relativelysmaller sheave 64 secured to the sheave 29 by suitable belts 65, wherebythe conveyer belt will be driven When the sheave 29 is rotated tooperate the crank disk 3|.

The means for driving the conveyer `is best illustrated in Figures 1 and2, and comprises a belt v`66 having a running connection with thelsheave 28 and a sheave 61, secured to one end of a short countershaft68, shown mounted in a suitable housing 69, indicated in dotted lines inFigure 2. The shaft 68 has a bevel gear 1| within the housing 6,9 whichmeshes with a similar gear 12 secured to one end of a short shaft 13, tothe opposite end of which is secured a suitable A chain 15 connects thesprocket wheel 14 with a drive sprocket 16 mounted on the usual driveshaft 11 of the truck. A suitable clutch 19 provides means foroperatively connecting the drive sprocket 18 to the shaft 11. The clutch19 has an operating lever 8| located adjacent to the drivers seatwhereby the clutch may be conveniently manipulated by the driver tocontrol the operation of the conveyer 44.

Means is provided whereby the front end of the conveyery 44 may beelevated to an inoperative position as indicated in dotted lines inFigure 1. The means provided for thus elevating the conveyer is shown-comprising a suitable cable 82 having one end secured to the lower endof the conveyer as indicated at 83 in Figure 1. The cable 82 passes overa sheave 84 provided at the forward end of the side frame member i8, andhas its opposite end secured to a drum 85 provided With a crank 86whereby it may be conveniently operated by the driver to raise or lowerthe front end of the conveyer.

To facilitate raising and lowering the front end of the conveyer, asuitable tortion spring 81 is shown having one end secured to a cross.member 88 at substantiallythe point indicated by the numeralV 89 inFigure 2.` The cross member 88 is secured to the front ends of the sideframe members 9 and I6. The spring 81 is coiled about a shaft 9| mountedin brackets 92, secured to the cross frame member 88. The opposite endof the tortion spring 81 is secured to the shaft 9 I, whereby when theshaft 9| is rotated in one direction, asA when lowering the conveyer,the spring will be put under tension. v

Cables 93 are provided at each side of the front end of the conveyer.These cables have their lower ends secured to the conveyer frame asshown at 94 and have their opposite ends secured to a pair ofcone-shaped spiral drums 94' secured to the shaft 9|. vThe drums 94 areso arranged that when the conveyer is in its lowermost position, shownin full lines in Figure 1, the upper ends of the cables will be coiledabout the drums 94' at their smallest diameters, and the spring 81 willbe under tension and thereby exert an upward pull onthe cables 93,thereby to counterbalance the major portion of the weight of `the frontend of the conveyer, whereby it may readily be raised or lowered bymanipulation of the crank 86.

A pair of chains 95 are shown secured to the cross member 88 at thefront ends of the longitudinal frame members 9 and I0. These chains areadapted to be engaged with brackets or hook' elements 96 secured to thefront end of the conveyer, when the latter is elevated.- to the dottedline position shown in Figure 1, thereby Ito retain and support theconveyer in its elevated inoperative position independently of thecables 82 and 93, when the conveyer is not in use.

As shown in Figures 5 and 6, the conveyer 21 is detachably supportedupon the frame members 9 and 10 so that if desired! it may readily beremoved therefrom. To thus detachably support the conveyer on the mainsupporting frame, a pair of brackets Si are detachably secured to theside frames or walls of the conveyer, and have U-shaped portions 98adapted to receive the .tubular cross member 2G, as clearly illustratedin Figures 4, 5, and 6. The brackets 9'1 are secured to the side membersof the conveyer by suitable bolts 99. When the nuts S9 are removed fromtheir respective bolts the brackets 91 may be detached, whereby theconveyer may readily be detached from the supporting frame 8, it beingunderstood that the belt 66 is first removed from the sheave 28, and thecables 82 and 93 disengaged from the front end of the conveyer frame.

Suitable guide rails 101 and 102 are provided on the side walls 22 and23 of the conveyer for supporting the upper and lower runs of theconveyer belt d4, as clearly illustrated in Figure 4.

In order that a single person may operate the truck and hay loader, aplatform 103 is provided on one side of .the truck body as shown inFigures 1 and 2. Because of the side frame member 10 of the supportingframe of the 'conveyor being offset, as shown at 19 in Figure 2, ampleroom is provided for the operator onthe platform 103, whereby he mayconveniently operate the usual steering wheel 104 of the truck and alsothe engine control mechanism, not shown, while stand` ing on theplatform 103. From this platform he may also readily observe theoperation of the conveyer and as he is stationed along side thereof hisvision. is not obscured by the front end of the conveyer.

During the loading operation, the driver will be stationed on theplat/form 103 and will control the operation of lthe truck and loaderfrom this point. When the truck has received a full load. the driverpreferably interrupts Vforward movement of the truck and theny elevatesthe 'conveyer to the dotted line yposition shown in Figure 1, bymanipulation of the crank 86. The truck is then driven to the stack or ahay storage bin and unloaded after which the driver returns to the eldfor another load.

It will thus be seen that the novel hay loader herein disclosed is soconstructed and arranged upon the truck that a single person may readilymanipulate 4both the truck and hay loader whereby the operation ofharvesting the hay or grain is greatly simplified.

I claim as my invention:

In combination with a motor vehicle comprising a frame, an engineprovided with a drive shaft, and a drivers seat provided with the usualvehicle controls, an auxiliary frame mounted on the forward end of thevehicle frame and having side members extending forwardly of the frontend of the vehicle, said auxiliary frame being substantiallylongitudinally alined with the vehicle frame, a cross shaft on theauxiliary frame, a conveyer pivotally supported on said shaft andextending forwardly of the vehicle, a sickle bar at the front end of theconveyer, ground engaging shoes on the forward end of the conveyeradapted to retain the sickle bar in spaced relation to the groundsurface, when the apparatus is in operation, a second shaft mounted onthe conveyer between the sickle bar and the cross shaft and having a'crank disk secured to one end thereof, a pitman having one endvconnected to the crank disk and its opposite end operatively connectedIto the sickle bar, said cross shaft having driving connections with theconveyer and said second shaft, whereby when the cross shaft isoperated, the elevator and sickle bar are operated, said cross shaftalso having a clutch-controlled driving connection with the engine driveshaft, whereby the operation of the conveyer and sickle bar may becontrolled independently of the traveling movement of the apparatus, "anoperators station located at one side of the conveyer adjacent to thedrivers seat whereby an operator on said station may have 'clear visionahead of the apparatus and whereby he may conveniently manipulate theusual vehicle controls, control means at the operators station forcontrolling the loperation of the elevator and sickle bar and forvertically adjusting the forward end of the elevator, and means forcounterbalancing the forward end of the conveyer.

CHRISTIAN JENSEN.

